Frankfurter cooking appliance



July 6, 1954 T, P. KouvALLls 2,682,829

FRANKFURTER COOKNG APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 21, 1951 E. E g

fj'g. 3 Gig. 6

Patented July s, 1954 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE rTheodore P.Kouvallis, Chicago, Ill. Application FebruaryZl, 1951, Serial No.212,058

My invention relates to appliances for cooking frankfurters. Ordinarily,frankfurters are cooked by boiling in water; or they may be cooked'on agrill in the open. Also, other methods exist for cookingv this type offood,` and each as its advantages insofar as facility, equipment andtime are concerned. My invention deals more particularly with theserving of frankfurters in lunchrooms, where small orders are requiredto be lled at different times. In such case, the factors of time andcompactness of equipment are of importance, and one object of myinvention is therefore to provide an appliance which occupies a smallspace behind the counter and conveniently cooks small orders of thefrankiurters.

A further object is to devise an appliance of the above character'whichis rapid in operation, whereby to render a quick service to thecustomers. n

Another object is to include in the novel appliancea unit inthe natureof an electric oven which retains the heat generated in the cookingzone,v enabling the current to be turned oi and the heat to remaineffective for the cooking of the frankfurters." Y Y Y -An additionalobject is to provide a receptacle for the depositof the frankfurterswhich is independent of the heating apparatus and particularly suitablefor-this type of food.

A still further object is-to construct the appliance with a top whichreceives heat from the cooking zone to a suicient degree in the mannerof a hot plate for keeping warm the buns or other bread deposited onsuch top in readiness to receive the cooked frankfurters.

Another object is to provide simple means for removing the frankfurtersto a point of access after they have been cooked.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-Fig. l is a top plan View of the appliance;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, sections on the lines 3-3 and 4--4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a viewv from the right-hand side of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawingindicates the housing of the appliance at I5, the same being ofrectangular form and preferably constructed pf sheet metal, which may bestainless steel for purposes of sani- 1 Claim. (Cl. 99-389) A tation.The housing receives a top I6 of the same material, properly reinforced;and the top has a receptacle plate I'I formed with an oblong opening I8for the deposit of the frankfurters into the appliance. At the bottom,the housing is extended with feet I9 supporting the appliance in raisedposition over a counter, table or other suitable surface.

Referring to Fig. 3, it is noted that the bottom Vof the housingreceives a pair of transversely positioned channels 2 I, these extendingwith outward brackets 22 at the top for the support of a tray `23. Thetray has an oblong internal opening 24 and is designed to support arectangular enclosure '25 over the opening 24 and dimensioned to receivean apron 26 of the receptacle plate El. As indicated, bolts 21 areapplied through the latter and the top I6 to thread into the enclosure25 Vin order to retain its alinement with the receptacle plate.

The apron 26 of the receptacle plate carries a pendent grill container28 of wire netting, such grill container being elongated in keeping withthe form of the receptacle opening I8 and suitable for the deposit of arow of frankfurters in single or double order, according to size. Thegrill container 28 is open at the bottom.

Reference to Fig. 4 shows that the housing is made with a frontalhorizontal slot 30 by means of which a slide 3I is inserted t0 occupy aposition vunder the tray 23, the frontedge of the slide being rolled, asindicated at 3Ia, to provide a handle. The upper portion of the channels2I is formed as guides 32 for receiving the slide and supporting thesame under the grill container 28 to form a bottom for the saine. Thehousing also has a frontal opening below the slot 30 for the insertionof a drawer 33 formed With afrontal knob 34. As shown in Fig. 4, thedrawer extends to almost full depth across the interior of the housing,so that its capacity is ample when the slide 3l is drawn forward forreceiving the cooked frankfurters; and the opening of the drawer placesthese in convenient access to be picked up with a fork when they are tobe served.

Figs. 4 and 6 indicate that the front and rear walls of the enclosure 25receive a pair of electrical heating units 35 of the type employed ingriddles or electric hot plates. These units are therefore positionedvertically in opposed relation; and the Walls to which they are attachedcarry sets of guard rods 36 in front of the heating units for theprotection of such units against interference by external objects.

The housing receives an electric supply cord 3l for the heating units35, such supply cord rst passing in the form of conductors 38 to aconventional timer 39 and thence in the form of conductors 4D to theheating units. Branch conductors 4I extend to a signal light 42 Which islighted when the appliance is in operation. No detailed description ofthe electrical components is considered necessary, since they are Wellknown in the art of electrical heating and cooking appliances.

It is now apparent, when the appliance is turned on and a supply offrankfurters deposited in the grill container 28, that the proximity ofthe heat:- ing units 35 to the frankfurters Will cause them to becomecooked in short order, the rate of cooking being controlled by the timer39;. The e111,

closure 25-Which may be madeof firebrick if practicable-serves as anoven to retain the heat in the Zone of the food, so that the samemayV aWarmingfoven whoseftop is of la sufficiently wide area to serve as ahotplate and accommodate an adequate Supply 0f the b uns or bread.

It. Will now be apparent that the above applianceis. an article whichvmaybe made quitey compact, so as to occupyra space on the back counter Lof allunchroom, drugstore fountain, school and factory cafeteras, etc.,no larger than is necessary for a commercial toaster; Yet, the applianceis of a natureto receiveorders 1of frankfurters conveniently, cookthemrapidly, keep them hot'if necessary,'andkeep thevbunsor bread Warm, allwithin the limits of the appliance. Further, the removal ci thecookedfrankfurters is confined tothe zone of the bottom` drawenso thatthere is no riskjof droppingY or scattering theJv food and causeinconvenience or embarrassment. `Further, the simpleA removal of the topbolts enables the topf of the4 appliance to be raised together with thegrilly container, aording full access to 'f the electric heatingV unitsin case the cleaningA of.

the top'` or grill container is desirable or attention or repair isnecessary for the heating units. Finally, the appliance fully enclosesall its mechanism, presenting a neat and sanitary appearance.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges or renements may be made therein without departing fromits-principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes andrefmements as may come within thescopeand spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A food cooking appliance comprising a housing, a side enclosurewithinthe same, electric heating units in spaced opposed relation within theenclosure, a top over the latter and the housing and` havingraperioration over the space between said heating units for the depositof food into said space, a grill container depending from the top insideof the enclosure and made open at the top aeg-bottemelslide nedertheerill; Container and ne metri-.ermiteahotom. for the Same, Such Slis@binemevabl@ te a point clearing the grill contailier,y a drawer inthebottom of the housing,

' and` meansinthelattr for supporting and gudf nig the sliasllhmeaesComprising. Qutward rim flanges at the. wp andlbotwm 0f theme10.- Susmng, mnd'fted' through 51.121110115- mg' 59D.- 'IQ Sellirrep'h@upperrm: fl-@ng t9' Such-591% Walls alongside the drawer for guiding-lVthe same, a Plticflf 19d-by 1596.111911. 'figlioli 511.9901. 511.1% thebottom, rim 11ans@ and Perf@ ted inwardlythere.- ofr and bfAiv/rgflYSaid wallseamlf plateleceivingY the, sidel portions offthe slideV forthe, S 1;1p port and guidance of the saline.,

References Cited in theiileof this patent UNITED- SEVAFEES PATENTSNumber Name D ate 521,718` Koll June 19', 1894 1,529,342; Christy Mar.10,r 19,25 1,720,800 Morrison J-u-ly 16,` 1929 1,821,226- Mabey Sept. 1,1931 1,841,301 I Schroeder etal; Jan. 12', 193-2 1,876,901 Forbes Sept.13; 1932 2,030,047 Bonzagni et` al. Feb. 11, 1936 2,151,195 Hender'shotet al. Mar. 21, 1939 2,329,937 Ox-kfritz Sept; 21, 1943 2,357,238 RicardSept. 5, v1944 2,384,863 Warner Sept. 18, 1945 2,465,577 Cox Mar. 29,1949

